"Four Christmases" 2008

"Four Christmases"

This is a fun movie. 

Brad and Kate have the perfect relationship.  They love each other and take time to appreciate each other and have fun.  They take dancing lessons, do some fun role playing at bars and mutally agree that marriage isn't for them.  They have also discovered the perfect way to avoid family drama over the holidays.  They spend their Christmas vacations on vacation. 



So they tell their families that they are heading out on a mission trip to inoculate orphans.  Which is great until fog roles in and cancels their flight to Fiji.   Not a big problem at first, but then they are on television.

Next thing you know they are trying to fit in four Christmases.



They start with Brad's dad.  He reveals some unknown facts, including Brad's birth name of Orlando.  We also meet Brad's brothers, Denver and Dallas.



Brad: My childhood was like the Shawshank Redemption, except I didn't have some old, warm, black man to share my story with!

After an uncomfortable gift exchange, where Brad forgot to mention the cap of $10 for gifts and a little home destruction and baby head banging, they are on their way to Kate's mom's house.



Now it is Kate's turn to be embarrassed.  She is exposed as a former fat girl and object of both cootie persecution and unrequited love from a girl name Jo.  A bouncy house adventure and a pregnancy test later, Kate is starting to question their relationship.  But she doesn't have much time to consider when a trip to church gets them on stage as Joseph and Mary. 



Then it is off to Brad's mom's house.



She has taken up with Brad's former childhood friend.   A game of Taboo cause Kate further despair in the relationship.



Brad is so wrapped up in his own drama, he doesn't notice.

After a heart to heart, Brad drops Kate off at her dad's and starts his own pondering.



Kate's dad calls her on her lies about Christmas and shares what he's learned.  A conversation between Brad and his own dad sends him running back to Kate to reevaluate.

The movie ends showing that Brad and Kate's attitudes about their families haven't changed much, but they are moving forward with their own lives.



It is a sweet movie. I like the whole cast.  But Jon Favreau and Katy Mixon steal every scene they are in.  It is a nice way to spend a couple of hours.